Adjustable humerus splint



March 6, 1934. E, TORNSJO 1,950,331

ADJUSTABLE HUMERUS SPLINT Filed March 20, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l "March6, 1934. G. E. TORNSJO ADJUSTABLE HUMERUS SPLINT Filed March 20, 1933 5Sheets-Sheet 2 March 6, 1934. TQRNSJQ 1,950,331

ADJUSTABLE HUMERUS SPLINT Filed March 20, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PatentedMar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES P-ATENT OFFICE 1.959331 ADJUSTABLE-HUMERUSSPLINT Gustaf Elof Tornsjo, Columbia, Mo., assignor to ResearchFoundatiom'lnc Columbia, Mo., a corporation ofMissouri p efi -Mere 33 Seial 18 .4 9

6 Claims. (01. 128 88) This invention is a novel splint for use intheframe is composed of parallel side bars 1 spaced treatment of injuriesto the arm of a patient, and apart sufi'i'c'iently to permiteasyplacing. of a ,paespecially useful in treating fracturesof .the hu---tients arm or forearmtherebetwee'n. Each .ofthe merus by traction andmobilization, and its .obbars 1 is provided with a series of equi-spacedperi l ject is to provide a splint which can .be attached forations 12for a purpose hereinafter explained: to the bed in which the patientlies, and adjusted The outer ends of bars 1 are connected, prefertosupport the upper arm andforearm inany deably by a transverse piece 1a;andthe inner ends sired positions, and is provided with means for of thebarsl are-connected to opposite endsof a raising or lowering the upperarm to any level semi-circular member 16, to one end 'of which is 10desired away from the horizontal. and for adhinged a similar member 10whichwith member justing the forearm to any angle desiredrelative 1?)forms a split ring. The free end of the memto the upper arm. It alsoprovidesmeanswhereber -1c may besecured tothe other end of member by thearm may be readily supported in proper lb by a thumb screw or othersuitable device inposition while being bandaged and can be ad- 'dicatedat-ld. The member 10 can beturnedback [J18 justed and manipulated asrequired during the out of the way whenthe patients forearm lis tofitreatment of the injured member. a be placed between thebars 1 ofthebaseframe. In thev accompanying drawings I have illus Theringmemberslbrlc arepreferably covered trated one practical embodiment ofthe invenwith rubber as indicated.

tion and will describe the same with reference -The perpendicular splintframe is composed of I '20 thereto, to enable others familiar with theart to parallel sidebars-2, connected at their outer ends .1

readily use the same. The essential features of preferably by a crosspiece 20,, and their inner the invention and novel combination ofv.parts endsare-pivoted respectively as at 2b,' to supports for whichprotection is desired are summarized in 3. 'I'he'bars 2 are alsoprovided with equi-spacecl the claims. perforations 2e-for a purposehereinafter deii!!! In the drawings: scribed.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the splint and The supports 3 areslidably and adjustably meansfor detachably attaching the same to themountd on the bars 1 and may have flanges3a bed inwhich the patientlies. and 32)- (Fig. 5) respectively above and below the Fig. 2 is aside elevation of thesplint detached. bars extending in front of thebars 1, and at- 1 Fig. 3 isan enlarged view of the splint adjusttachedto'the outer faces of the flanges 3a and 317.11

ing devices. r are plates- 3c-through which are tappedthumb Fig. 4 is adetail top plan viewvof the outer end screws 3d adapted'to frictionallyengage the outer of the supporting frame. sides of bars 1 whereby-bytightening screws 3d Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5. thesupports 3 can be f xed in'adjusted'positions 35 Fig. 3. fonthe bars 1.5

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of-the frameshow- Each bar 2 is connectedabove its pivot 21; to ing the means for adjusting the pulleysupportopposite ends of the supports 3' preferably by ing standardthereon. resilient members composed of telescopic tubes 4 Fig. 7 is adetail view of the means on the splint and 40 (Fig. 3) enclosing springs4d. The outer 40 for adjusting the traction on the forearm. "end of eachmember 4 is pivoted at 4?) to 9. lug} Fig. 8 is a side view of Fig. 7.on the adjacent end of the member 3, and the Fig. 9 is a detail viewshowing the detachable inner end'of' each membe'ria is pivotally conpadsattached to the frame. nected to a'pin 40 on the bar 2. Within the tele-Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 10-40, scopic members 4, 4aare preferably arranged L 45 Fig. 9. expansion springs 4d. Theseresilient membersi Fig. 11 is a side elevation illustratingnse oftend'to hold the splint frame 2 in a position perthe splint forproducing tension on the upper arm. Ipendicular to bars 1, theinclination of the splint Fig. 12 is a similar view illustrating useofthe frame 2 relative to the bars 1 being regulable splint formaintaining the forearm in a fixed poand preferably controlled ashereinafter .de-

50 sition. scribed. Fig. 13 is an end elevation illustrating use of -Theframe bars 1 may be supported on the bed the splint for producingtension on theforearm: by any suitable means, preferably. by, means ofThe splint comprises a base frame, for. supa supporting frame composedof opposite bars 5 porting the upper arm; andaperpendicularsplintadjustably connected at theirfupper ends to the 55 frame for supportingtheforearm. -'-I'he -base bars 1 by a s Of bolts 5 h h y be enga withperforations 1e in the bars 1 and secured by thumb nuts. Each of thebars 5 is pivoted at its lower end to a clamp member 6 provided with anadjustable bolt 6a tapped through the lower jaw thereof, the upper jawof the clamp engaging the side rail R of the bed in which the patient islying (see Fig. 1). The angle of adjustment of the base frame 1 can bevaried by means of links 6b, pivoted on the clamp members 6 and havingslots 60 transfixed by bolts 50 passed through the slots in links 61)and into the bars 5 and secured by thumb nuts 5d (see Figs. 1 and Thebars 5 may be braced by a tie rod or bolt 5e adjacent their upper ends,whichrod or bolt Se is adjustable by means of a thumb nut 5 Mounted onthe base frame isan adjustable cross-plate '7 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) whichcan be secured in position on bars 1 by clamp bolts provided with thumbnuts 7a. The cross-piece carries a standard 7b, in the upper bifurcatedend.

of which is journaled a pulley 7c. The standard 7b may be threadedthrough the piece 7 so that it can be adjusted up or down, and may belocked in adjusted position by means of opposed thumb nuts 7e.

To the outer face of end piece 1a of the base frame is secured a bracketcarrying a pulley 1h (Figs. 1, 2 and 1) and attached to the inner faceof said end piece 1a is a bracket 1i in which is mounted a pulley 1Mounted in the bars 2 adjacent the end bar 2a is a rotatable shaft 8(Figs. 1, '7 and 8) to which a cord may be attached. On one end of thisshaft 8 is a disk 8a, preferably knurled, having ratchet teeth 81) onits inner face (Figs; 7 and 8) These teeth are adapted to be engaged bya pawl 80 which is normally pressed outward by a flat spring 8d on whichthe pawlis mounted, the spring being attached at one end to the adjacentbar 2 and carrying a thumb piece orbutton 8e. By pressing button 8einwardly the pawl 80 can be disengaged from the ratchet 8b.

In preparing the apparatus for use, the base frame and the perpendicularsplint frame are adjusted to convenient positions to receive thepatientsarm preparatory to bandaging it. To support the arm duringbandaging I provide detachable pads, see Figs. 9 and 10, whichpreferably consist of felt pads 9b carried by adjustable straps 9connecting hooks 9a. The hooks So can be engaged with opposedperforations 1e or 2c in the opposite bars 1, or 2 respectively, Asulficient number of these pads are placed in position to comfortablysupport the patients arm during the bandaging, and these pads 9bconstitute the main support of the arm and forearm as long as the splintis used. V

p In operation when tension is desired for the upper arm the two pulleys7c and 17' are used. Adhesive tapes (not shown) are wrapped along andaround the upper arm when in the position shown in Fig. 11, and a cord20 is attached at the elbow where the tapes converge and is passed overone of the pulleys '10 or 11', with a weight 21 attached at the otherend of the cord to produce the desired tension. .This tension on theupper arm also tends to hold the rubber-covered ring 1b, 1c of thesplint against the patients side and shoulder thereby securing necessarystability.

If it is desired to keep the upper arm in a horizontal position thecord. 20 is run over pulley 17', as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11.The pulley 7c is used if a slightly upward pull or tension away from thehorizontal is desired and the cord passed over pulleys 7c and 171. asshown in full lines in Fig. 11. The pulley 7c is, as hereinbeforestated, adjustable as to height, and may be adjusted at any time shouldit become necessary. If adhesive tapes cannot be used around the upperarm a Steinman pin 22 is inserted through the lower part of the humerus,and the cord 20 and Weight 21 attached to the pin in the same mannerabove described.

The perpendicular splint frame in which the forearm is bandaged is usedmostly as an exerciser. In order to keep the muscles soft and pliablethe patient may swing the arm back and forth against the action of theopposed sprirms 4d (Fig. 3) which being oppositely acting tend to keepthe perpendicular frame upright. These forearm in a certain position,relative. to the humerus, and the pulley 1h is usedfor that purpose. Acord 23 is fastened to the shaft 8 and run through pulley 1h to a weightor fixed object 24 on the floor, as shown in Fig. 12. ."10E

The ratchet 8b and pawl 8c at the end of the perpendicular frame (Figs.'7 and 8) is used for tension on the forearm. As shown in Fig. 13adhesive tapes 26 are applied along the forearm andthe ends secured to across member 28 sus ilh pended from a cord 27 attached to a peg 8:): onshaft 8. When the ratchet 8a is turned the proper tension on the forearmmay be obtained, and the pawl. will prevent backward rotation of theshaft 8. "711! I claim:--

1. In a splint of the character specified, a base frame comprisingopposite side bars, supporting members adjustably mounted on said bars,a splint-frame comprising opposite bars respective 12( ly pivotallyattached to the said suporting members,- spring members at oppositesides of the splint-frame and respectively connected to the splint-frameand to the supporting members and adapted to hold the splint frameperpendicular? 121 to the base frame.

. 2. In a splint as set forth in claim 1, supports connected with thebase frame, clamps connected to the lower ends of said supports adaptedto engage the side of a bed and links, connecting? in said clamps andadjustably connected to said supports.

3. In a splint of the character specified, a base frame comprisingopposite parallel bars, a split ring connecting the inner ends of thebars, sup? porting members adjustably mounted on said bars, a splintframe comprising opposite bars respectively pivotally attached to thesaid supporting members, telescopic spring members at opposite sides ofthe splint-frame and respec tively connected to the splint-frame barsand to the supporting members and adapted to hold the splint-frameperpendicular to the base frame, means for supporting the upper arm of apatient in said base frame, and means for supporting 14 the forearm ofthe patient in the splint-frame,

4. In a splint asset forth in claim 3, supporting bars connected withthe bars of the base frame, clamps connected to the lower ends of saidsupporting bars adapted to engage the side the splint frame andadjustable longitudinally of the base frame normally holding the splintframe perpendicular to the base frame.

6. In a splint as set forth in claim 5, supports connected. with sidebars of the base frame, clamps connected to said supports adapted toengage the side rail of a bed, and bracing links connected to saidclamps and adjustably connected to said supports.

GUSTAF ELOF TORNSJO.

